The Liondrome

These vintage images capture dare devil bikers driving motorcycles around a so-called ‘wall of death’, built perpendicular to the floor.

That’s dangerous enough without adding the lions on board the vehicles, which sit neatly perched in makeshift side-cars as spectators gather to watch in awe.

Perched on the edge of the vehicle, the lion is driven around the ‘wall of death’ at speeds as high as 80mph

Captured between the 1920s and 1960s, the photographs, which feature on the Retronaut website, show an event that became one of the most daring acts at fairgrounds and carnivals in the early 1900s in America.

The motorcycle craze – which peaked in the 1930s – began with single drivers circling around a wood-paneled motordrome at high speeds and completely vertical.

Over a hundred ‘walls of death’, as they became known, were traveling the states by the 1930s.

Taken in the mid-1900s, this photograph snaps a lioness roaring angrily at the driver of the vehicle

Extreme motorcycle shows became one of the most daring acts at fairgrounds and carnivals in the early 1910s in America

As organizers increased the angle of the walls throughout the years, making them more steep, the number of serious accidents increased.

One of the most popular versions of the sport was nicknamed the ‘Liondrome’, so-called because it featured a rider accompanied by a tamed lion.

Traveling with a lion was always risky business – as captured in these photographs – where lions and lionesses are seen letting out gigantic roars.

A man and his pet lion: The cub looks a tad grumpy as it rests on the motorcycle ahead of the show

‘Death riders and racing lion’: A signed photograph of a lion and the courageous riders

The drivers placed the animals in side-cars, unless they were small enough, in which case the lions were sometimes placed on the rider’s lap.

One of the most difficult parts of the stunt was to induce the lion to remain quiet throughout the event.

After a number of accidents in which riders were injured or killed, it was decided the sport had become too dangerous and it ended.

Attribution: Mail Online

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About the Common Constitutionalist

Brent, aka The Common Constitutionalist, is a Constitutional Conservative, and advocates for first principles, founders original intent and enemy of progressives. He is former Navy, Martial Arts expert. As well as publisher of the Common Constitutionalist blog, he also is a contributing writer for Political Outcast, Godfather Politics, Minute Men News (Liberty Alliance), Freedom Outpost, the Daily Caller, Vision To America and Free Republic. He also writes an exclusive weekly column for World Net Daily (WND).